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Dear Bob
Accept my congratulations upon your political preferment It is no doubt as welcome to you as a Colonelcy (when it comes) will be to me. I am one of your constituents, & have therefore a right to make suggestions to you in regard to your duties as a representative. The democratic party is of course deeply interested in the efficiency of our Military organization. Upon which the successful prosecution of the war depends.
The Regiment of Voltigeurs is not quite perfect. It wants an additional company to make it so. Then, with 10 companies of Riflemen & a Howitzer battery, it can maintain itself against all comers. As now organized by law it consists of 9 companies of Riflemen. Every other regiment in the world, you know, has 10 companies. All the systems of tactics known, are based upon that supposition. every body in this campaign has remarked the efficiency & value of the rifle. Another company therefore would, besides completing the organization of the regt., be so much clear gain to our force, & particularly important to a regiment intended, like this, for detached service -- a partizan corps -- Genl Scott observed the defect in the law & as soon as the regt joined his army, organized it as I propose. Manning the Howitzers with a company enlisted by the ordnance dept.This company has been attached to the regiment every since, but is so much reduced by losses in the recent actions that it is now too weak for the service of a battery, & is not recruited.
Now you might easily attach a clause to the first Military bill that passes adding this company to the regiment. The officers to be appointed by selection (in the first place, vacancies supplied by the M.A. [U.S. Military Academy]). From the Arty. Ord. T.E. [Artillery, Ordnance, Topographical Engineers] &tc.
It is particularly important that a detached bettery like this should have well instructed officers, as they must be thrown generally upon their resources, & be very much out of reach of the aid of the ord: dept.
The man I should want for Capt. is R. P. Hammond of the 3d Arty, 1st Lieut. Failing him 1st Lieutenant M. Lovell 4th Arty. The 1st Lieut: to be J. L. Reno, 2d Lt. ord: dept. Who comd [commanded] the battery at Chapultepec, as thorough a game-cock as ever fluttered.
Callender, who comd [commanded] the battery when entered the valley was so severely wounded at Contreras that he can't again be fit for such service.
The lower grades might be filled by one or two sergts (Depew & Maguire) who distinguished themselves highly and have been recommended for promotion.
General Quitman whom you will see in Washington, the friend of Hammond & Lovell, promised to interest himself in this affair. So did Gen: Shields. They can do much. You might add to the provision, to be retained on the peace establishment with this organization. The feeling of permanence would improve the regiment much, besides giving us W. P. [West Point] graduates.
I wrote to you from Mexico [City] in regard to life insurance, & had hoped to find the paper here & forward it, but the trunk in which it was left is not to be found -- however, it can't be of any consequence. The premium was $1.83 besides $2.00 for war risk -- on $3000 -- the war risk ought to be reduced as the fighting is mainly done.
The country is getting full of new generals. Men who, I hope, were "born to command" -- otherwise God help the commanded. It is impossible to say how the Army values Genl Scott's health & safety.
The old gent. (Patrick) at my elbow sends his regards & felicitations on your election. Miles has had a great deal to say about it, and well as little McPhail of the 5th.
I am here in comd [command] of a convoy, & have a larger command than any of our generals of division in the Valley.
As ever
J. E. Johnston
[Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891, USMA Class of 1829
Robert Milligan McLane (1815-1898), USMA Class of 1837
Scott = Winfield Scott (1786-1866)
R. P. Hammond = Richard Pindell Hammond (1826-1891), USMA Class of 1841. Moved to San Francisco after the war and became California Speaker of the House, among other things
M. Lovell = Mansfield Lovell (1822-1884), USMA Class of 1842
J. L. Reno = Jesse Lee Reno (1823-1862), USMA Class of 1846
Callender = Franklin Dyer "Frank" Callender (1817-1882), USMA Class of 1839
Depew = William R. Depew
Maguire = Glassop (aka Glossop) McGuire (aka McQuire)
General Quitman = John Anthony Quitman (1798-1858)
Gen: Shields = James Shields (1810-1879)
Patrick = Thomas Patrick Andrews (1794-1868)
Little McPhail = Daniel H. McPhail (1813-1884)
Miles = [?]
[Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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